Healthcare Bullying: Creating a Culture of Change

Most have heard the saying, “Nurses eat their young.” Some consider it ingrained in the healthcare culture, a rite of passage, or an unavoidable fact of life. It is up to us to create a culture of change!

Workplace incivility and bullying remains a problem of epidemic proportions in the healthcare profession. Many healthcare workers and students are subjected to bullying from co-workers, managers, physicians, preceptors, and/or clients. Bullying occurs in all sectors of health care and is a significant, under-reported occupational health and safety issue. It has a profound effect on everyone involved, including patients. Zero-tolerance for workplace violence policies exist, however, these policies are often not enforced.

Healthcare workers have a responsibility to learn to successfully deal with bullying on a personal level and to help transform the healthcare environment into a safe place to work and receive care. Bully-free organizations will see a reduction in costs and an improvement in patient safety. This course is designed to assist staff to recognize and successfully deal with workplace incivility in the healthcare setting.